CAMERON—A successor to Pat Moraw, chief appraiser of the Milam Appraisal District (AD) may be named during a meeting of directors at 12:15 p.m. Thursday in the AD’s Cameron offices, 12-B North Houston.

Moraw is ret iring af ter a 33-year career with the appraisal district, 26 as chief appraiser.

A reception was held in her honor on Tuesday in the AD offices.

The agenda states directors will retire to an executive session, then reconvene in open session where an agenda item is to “approve a resolution appointing the chief appraiser.”

Other agenda items include elections results for the 2014-15 board of directors election and a report on litigation.

GMA 12 group to hold meeting Thursday

MILANO—Groundwater Management Area (GMA) 12 will hold a joint meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, at the Milano Civic Center, 120 West Ave. E.

GMA 12 is designated by the Texas Water Development Board and consists of the Post Oak Savannah Groundwater Conservation District (GCD), Fayette County GCD, Lost Pines GCD, Mid-East Texas GCD and Brazos Valley GCD.

Agenda items for the meeting include an update from each of the GMA 12’s GCDs and to discuss representation for the GMA 12 on regional water planning groups.

There was no POSGCD monthly meeting in December.

Chamber offering free heaters for the needy

With cold weather on the way as soon as this weekend, the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce has a limited number of heaters for free distribution to persons that don’t have heat, or inadequate heat, in their homes.

Heaters may be obtained by visiting the Chamber office, 1203 West Cameron (US 79).

Hours are 8 a.m to 12-noon and 1 to 5 p.m., weekdays.

Thorndale council mulls use of city athletic fields

THORNDALE— City council members in Thorndale, meeting last Wednesday in regular monthly session, discussed community interest in changing usage of some city athletic fields.

A subsequent meeting will be scheduled to discuss the matter with all interested parties.

Council member met with Oncor spokesman Eddie Ferguson who explained a proposed franchise renewal.

The council tabled action, pending further information.

Council members authorized the city to auction property via GovDeals, an on-line auction site.

Members discussed ordinance violations pertaining to health and safety issued and authorized the city staff to hire a third party to clean up two “properties in disrepair” and to attach a lien on the property to recover costs.

Grass fire calls return for Rockdale volunteers

Despite what’s been a wetter than-normal winter, so far, grass fire calls have returned for the Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department.

Volunteer were called out at 2:45 p.m. Monday to a grass blaze on County Road 319 off FM 908 south of Rockdale.

Another Monday call, at 35:53 p.m., sent Rockdale volunteers to a small grass fire in a ditch off FM 1786.

At 10:08 a.m. Saturday, Rockdale volunteers were called to the 400 block of Seventh Street for a utility pole that broke, causing a power outage.

City will flush fire hydrants Wednesday

Rockdale city crews will flush fire hydrants overnight on Wednesday, Dec. 18, according to city manager Kelvin Knauf.

Flushing will take place on the east and west sides of town.

“Residents are reminded to run their cold water a few minutes the next morning,” Knauf said.

TxDOT repairing roads from November floods

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is continuing repairs on Milam County farm-market roads damaged by flooding in early November.

None are in the Rockdale area. All are in north Milam County.

Bob Colwell, spokesperson for TxDOT’s Bryan office said repairs this week are planned for the following:

• FM 2269, from US 190 to FM 485.

• FM 2027, from Falls County line to FM 979.

• FM 485, from US 77 to FM 2269.

• FM 437, from FM 2268 to FM 1915.

Work also continues on a passing lane project on Texas 36-US 190 from Cameron to the Bell County line. Colwell said that project is forecast for completion in spring of 2014.